my name is nicole jackson, and I'm a dedicated reviewer

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I’d been looking forward to seeing this from the very second I heard of a film with both Ryan Gosling AND Bradley Cooper starring.. But I must say, I was a little disappointed.

I am a major Ryan fan, which is probably why I enjoyed the half he was actually in. Yes, you know what that means. He plays the bad boy low life who finds out his one-time fling has had his child, and gets the urge to do more with his life in order to provide for on-screen/off-screen girlfriend Eva Mendes. This involves using his motorcycle riding ‘skills’ in order to rob banks (odd link I know), which is when police officer Bradley enters the scene.

It was from there that I personally felt the film plummeted, as the built up story of a bank robber developed into a dark story of dirty cops and family vengeance, one that went on for far too long. The first 40 minutes = excellent, the next 30 = dropping, the next 20 = getting good again, ending = could have ended 20 minutes ago!

That aside, all three stars were brilliant, Gosling excelling as per! The characters connected well, the story was believable, and at times it gripped me well. The Place Beyond The Pines was sadly one of Ryan’s last films before he heads down a different path of directing.. But I now know he suits every hair colour as well as every type of man, bad boy looks good on this fabulous actor.